Antique Union Shield Escutcheon Plate (for Door Latch) antique framed drawing sent from a Susan Merritt

sent from a Susan Merritt in Boston to her aunt Susan in Woolwich

I think this little Oaxacan armadillo alebrijes is pretty charming

but these I was sold on immediately for the beauty and grace of of their elongated turned forms

it really feels rather like one of those puzzle drawings where you are supposed to locate all sorts hidden images

which their prior owner purchased at a flea market it Paris many years ago

Antique Union Shield Escutcheon Plate (for Door Latch) antique framed drawing sent from a Susan MerrittI'm finding myself drawn to antique emblems of America of late, I think clinging to an optimistic idea of America that seems to rapidly slipping away. I know that this antique shield was made as the escucheon for a door latch. (Now, seems like a good thing to hitch the dog leash to!) I find those incised stars (each one slightly different from the next) and hatched lines really beautiful. And a gorgeous patina too. Heavy for its size, I though at